Employers Co-operative education (co-op) is a work-integrated learning option for Durham College (DC) students. Co-op offers students full-time paid work experiences, with each work term lasting 12 to 14 weeks in duration. The Experiential Learning team supports employers throughout the co-op recruitment process and up to the completion of the work term. Employers can apply for the Ontario Co-operative Education Tax Credit of up to $3,000 per co-op student, per work term, when they hire a student from an eligible program. What are the benefits of hiring a co-op student? There are many advantages of hiring a DC co-op student. Here are some of the most popular reasons: Fresh Perspective: Durham College co-op students bring innovative ideas and fresh perspectives to your organization. Skill Development: You can shape their skills and knowledge to align with your specific needs. Future Talent Pipeline: Build relationships with potential future employees. Exclusive Talent: Targeted candidates from a specific program with the ideal skill sets you’re looking for. Eligible Programs The following chart indicates which DC programs provide co-ops and work terms. Visit a program page below to learn more. Program Name Work Term Scheduling Eligible for Ontario Co-operative Education Tax Credit? Summer (May to August) Fall (September to December) Winter (January to April) Accounting Yes Artificial Intelligence Analysis, Design and Implementation (work term option) No Automotive Technician - Service and Management Yes Carpentry - Building Construction Technician Yes Carpentry and Renovation Technician Yes Civil Engineering Technician Yes Civil Engineering Technology Yes Cloud Computing (work term option) No Computer Programming and Analysis (co-op) Yes Computer Programming and Analysis (internship) Yes Computer Systems Technology Yes Cybersecurity (work term option) No Data Analytics for Business Decision Making (work term option – January-start students only) No Electrical Engineering Technician (September-start students only) – NEW! Yes Electromechanical Engineering Technology Yes Environmental Technology Yes Event Planning Yes Finance Yes Fire Prevention and Technology Yes Horticulture Technician – NEW! Yes Horticulture – Food and Farming – NEW! Yes Hospitality - Hotel and Restaurant Operations Management (for September- start students only) Yes Human Resources (advanced diploma) Yes Human Resources Management (work term option) No Law Clerk Yes Marketing Yes Mechanical Engineering Technology Yes Mechanical Technician - Elevating Devices Yes Mechanical Technician - Millwright Yes Professional Selling and Business Development (work term option) No Project Management (work term option) No Public Relations (work term option) No Supply Chain and Operations Management (co-op) Yes Supply Chain and Operations Management (internship) Yes Supply Chain Management - Global (work term option) No Tourism - Destination Marketing Yes Welding Engineering Technician Yes Co-op Hiring Process STEP 1: POST YOUR CO-OP POSITION There are two ways to post a co-op position: Visit the Hired portal at https://hired.durhamcollege.ca. Create an employer account or log into your account (if you already have one). Use the job posting form to enter the details for the co-op opportunity. Once your posting has been submitted, we will publish the co-op opportunity or contact you for more information. Once approved, the position will be live on Hired for co-op students to view. Email your posting directly to us at co-op@durhamcollege.ca and we will post the opportunity on Hired for you. We will reach out to you if we have any questions. You will receive an email with your account information and confirming your job postings. STEP 2: REVIEW APPLICATIONS Once the deadline of your opportunity has been reached, a bundle containing the names of the candidates along with their applications will be sent to you unless you have specified a different application method. Applications may consist of cover letters, resumés, unofficial transcripts, or all of the above as per your request. STEP 3: INTERVIEW CANDIDATES Once you have screened and selected the candidates, there are two ways in which interviews can be scheduled. Interviews can be held at your location, on campus, or virtually. You can reach out to the candidates and schedule interviews yourself. You can contact the Experiential Learning team, and we will schedule interviews on your behalf. Once the interview schedule has been confirmed, we will contact you with the details. STEP 4: MAKE AN OFFER Once you have selected the student(s) you would like to hire, there are two ways an offer can be made: You can reach out to the successful student and make the offer directly. You can contact the Experiential Learning team, and we would be more than happy to extend the offer to the student. Contacting a student to share the news of a job offer is one of the best parts of working as a co-op coordinator! STEP 5: FINALIZE Once an offer of employment has been accepted by a student, they will complete documentation on our Hired portal. Once finalized, the team will reach out with the Employer Work Term Agreement which must be signed by an individual with the authority to bind your company. Important Co-op Dates Important Dates The following dates are updated each semester. Please check back regularly. Salary Guidelines A co-op and work term student’s salary is determined by the employer, and Durham College (DC) is only required to ensure a provincial minimum wage is being provided. By law, employers are required to pay the provincial hourly minimum wage, however, many employers may choose to pay the market rate for their respective co-op position(s), as this helps attract top students. We encourage salary, or salary range for the student(s), to be included on co-op/work term job postings as a recruitment strategy. DC does not promote or promote positions for co-op and work terms that are fully unpaid, honourarium-based, or full commission. If you are unsure of what compensation is appropriate, we would be happy to discuss with you. Please reach out to the Industry Liaison responsible for your sector by submitting the online request form. Employer Responsibilities Co-op involves three partners: the employer, the college and the student. The success of the co-op partnership is dependent upon mutual commitment from all three groups and the partnership cannot be altered without the knowledge and consent of everyone involved. Employers are responsible for ensuring the following: Providing students with meaningful employment related to their field of study. Providing remuneration for work performed and any benefits as appropriate. The employer's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) coverage is applicable to co-op students as they are considered employees during their work terms. Providing accurate, informative job descriptions to stimulate student interest. Providing an orientation to familiarize students with their work environments, job responsibilities, organizational policies and procedures, etc. Discussing and approving the students’ performance and practice goals at the beginning of each work term. Providing students with supervision and training by individuals who understand and are interested in co-op. Providing mid-term and final performance feedback of the students. Advising Experiential Learning (EL) immediately of any job-related performance issues (i.e., attendance, punctuality, and quality of work). Providing increasing responsibilities in successive work terms for returning students. Student responsibilities To actively and consistently participate in securing a work term. To conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner through the application and hiring process, as well as on the job. To ensure that their direct supervisor has no relation to themselves. To maintain academic standards required to be eligible for their work term. To remain on cycle with their program of study and to consult with Experiential Learning before requesting any changes to their program of study. To adhere to all Durham College policies and procedures including any guidelines set out in this manual. To conform to company policies and procedures and follow safety rules explicitly. To establish performance and practice goals in consultation with their employer for each work term. To advise their co-op coordinator of any work term concerns they cannot resolve with their employer. To complete a work term reflection report for every scheduled work term. College responsibilities To develop and maintain relevant curricula reflecting the needs of employers. To prepare students for their work terms with appropriate skills and attitudes. To define and administer the co-op processes (recruitment, admission, work term administration, etc.). To provide program information to employers and students. To assist employers in the recruitment process. To endorse for employment consideration only those students meeting the established guidelines set out by the college. To monitor and evaluate student progress and performance in co-operation with participating employers. To mediate all work term issues and concerns to find an appropriate resolution on behalf of all parties. To maintain co-op student files and work term records Work Term Funding There are a number of grants, tax credits and funding programs available that may help offset the cost of your hire. Below are two key funding opportunities many employers rely on. Ontario Co-Operative Education Tax Credit A key financial benefit to companies that hire a co-op student is the Co-operative Education Tax Credit (CETC). Ontario businesses that hire students enrolled in a post-secondary co-operative education program are eligible for the tax credit. The tax credit is based on salaries and wages paid to a student during a co-operative education work term. Corporations can claim 25 per cent of eligible expenditures (30 per cent for small businesses). The maximum credit for each work placement is $3,000. Durham College’s Experiential Learning Hub will provide employers with a letter of certification to use in the CETC application. Federal Student Work Placement Program The Federal Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) gives post-secondary students across Canada paid work experience related to their field of study. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) works with Employer Delivery Partners. Employer Delivery Partners are a group of recognized associations and organizations that represent the interests of employers in industries. The ESDC works with businesses and post-secondary education institutions to: Provide wage subsidies to employers that offer quality student work placements; and Create partnerships with colleges, universities, polytechnics and CEGEPs to recruit students for these placements. Student work placement activities can include, but are not limited to: mentorship programs, co-op placements, practicums and applied research projects. Students must be: Registered as a domestic student in a recognized post-secondary institution Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act Legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations. International students are not eligible Undertaking a placement that is recognized as work-integrated learning in connection with a course, degree, certificate, diploma, or other recognized program offered by the institution. The placement can be required or optional, for credit or not for credit. In a full or part-time program from any program of study If you will be pursuing and/or will be reliant on receiving SWPP funding, we strongly encourage you note this in your job posting so that only Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or convention refugees know to apply. Are you ready to hire a co-op student? Please reach out to the Industry Liaison responsible for your sector by submitting the request form below.
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